Former MEP Nick Griffin has been replaced as leader of the British National Party (BNP), the far-right group announced.

The party's website said Adam Walker had been appointed acting chairman after Mr Griffin "stepped aside", two months after he lost the party's only seat at the European Parliament in a disastrous set of election results.

Mr Griffin, who was declared bankrupt in January, had "taken up the position of President", it said, adding that the national executive was "united in their support" for his replacement.

After voters in the north west ousted him as an MEP in May, Mr Griffin accepted the BNP – which now only has two local councillors – would be described as a "racist" outfit.

Mr Griffin was declared bankrupt earlier this year as the party lost its deposit in all the UK's electoral regions in which it fielded candidates.

The BNP blamed its poor performance on the rise of Ukip, which it said had become the party of choice for protest votes in the UK about Europe and immigration.